Teachers' Pack FOR SCHOOLS 2021 - Bournville BookFest
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FOR SCHOOLS 2021
Teachers’
Pack
Written and developed for
Bournville BookFest
by Everybody Reads CIC
Contents 1. Michael Rosen 2. Benjamin Zephaniah 3. Cressida Cowell 4. Steven Butler & Steven Lenton 5. Katherine Rundell 6. Tom Palmer
1. Michael Rosen
About Michael
Michael Rosen is a poet, performer, broadcaster, author and scriptwriter. Michael was
born on 7th May 1946 in Harrow, London. In 2007 he became the Children's Laureate, a
role which he held until 2009. While Laureate, he set up the Roald Dahl Funny Prize which
gives awards to the funniest children's books of the year. He was in hospital in 2019 with
COVID but is now home and has written a new book called Rigatoni the Pasta Cat.
About the illustrator of Chocolate Cake
Kevin Waldron was born and raised in Dublin. His first book, Mr. Peek and the
Misunderstanding at the Zoo won the Bologna Ragazzi Opera Prima Award in 2009.
He has illustrated another book written by Michael Rosen called the Tiny Little Fly.
Kevin now lives in New York.
About Poetry
Poetry is another way of telling stories. It uses sounds, rhyme, rhythm and sometimes the way it is laid out
on a page to tell the story. Poetry is a great way to teach children about language. Looking at the sounds,
rhyme, rhythm, imagery and layout of a poem can help to develop a child’s reading, writing, speaking and
listening skills.
Before you start have a copy of Chocolate Cake available ISBN978-0141379203
ACTIVITY
Ask whether anyone has read or heard any of Michael Rosen’s poems before. The most famous book they
may have heard of that Michael has written is We’re Going on a Bear Hunt which is now also an animated
film.
Do any of the children know of any other famous poems?
Watch Michael Rosen’s video from 1st March 2020: www.bournvillebookfest.com/schools
ACTIVITY
Explain that in writing the poem, Michael has used different writing methods to help readers understand
how much he LOVES eating chocolate cake.
See the next page for an activity to identify how a some of these have been used in part of the poem. You
can use boxes to note them down.So I got up out of the bed….
Shhhhh!!!
I mustn’t wake my brother up!
Along the passage…
Careful not to tread on the creaky floorboard
Outside Mum and Dad’s bedroom, because if they wake up
and find me I’ll be in BIG TROUBLE.
So, really quiet.
CREAKKKK!
Are they still asleep?
Yes. OK. Along the passage…
Down the stairs…
Into the kitchen…
Open the cupboard…
And…
Yeahhh! There it is!!!
So I take it out…
Just have a look at it.
Mmmm.
Look at it, yeahhhh…
Oh, what’s this? Oh… mmm… and then I notice some little crumbs on
the plate. So I think, if I lick the end of my finger I could pick up some
of those crumbs and no-one would know anything about it.
Chooka, chooka, chooka, chooka, chook!
What adjectives can you find? Can you spot an example of onomatopoeia?
Can you come up with other flavours of cake using alliteration?
E.g. Sweet Succulent StrawberryWhat is Michael thinking What is Michael’s mum
or feeling? thinking or feeling?
The whole
chocolate cake
is eaten.
I know what Michael is thinking because: I know what Michael’s mum is thinking because:
......................................... .........................................
......................................... .........................................
......................................... .........................................
What next?
Other useful resources:
Poems by Michael Rosen for use in the Classroom, including Chocolate Cake.
https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/uploads/store/mediaupload/765/file/Michael%20Rosen%20poems.pdf
Michael Rosen’s YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7D-mXO4kk-XWvH6lBXdrPw
Lesson ideas and activities – from Puffin – Chocolate Cake
https://www.puffinschools.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Puffin-Schools-KS1-Poetry-Resource-
Pack-Michael-Rosens-Chocolate-Cake.pdf
Other poems in book form written by Michael:
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – this was adapted by Michael from a folk rhyme.
Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly and Gravy
Bananas in My Ears
Other books illustrated by Kevin Waldron
Mr Peek and The Misunderstanding at the Zoo – written & illustrated by Kevin Waldron.2. Benjamin Zephaniah
About Benjamin Zephaniah
Benjamin was born on 15th April, 1958 in Handsworth, Birmingham where he grew up.
His mum was from Jamaica and was a nurse and his dad a postman from Barbados. He
left school when he was only 13. He was dyslexic and unable to read or write but loved
poetry so much he taught himself to do both and was able to get his poetry published.
He describes himself as a poet, writer, song-writer and musician and loves performing
his poems live for audiences.
Benjamin has used his own experiences in his poetry, some of which are funny, others
hard hitting and political. He supports Aston Villa football team.
About poetry
Poetry is another way of telling stories. It uses sounds, rhyme, rhythm and sometimes the way it is laid out
on a page to tell the story. Poetry is a great way to teach children about language. Looking at the sounds,
rhyme, rhythm, imagery and layout of a poem can help to develop a child’s reading, writing, speaking and
listening skills.
The oral tradition of sharing stories, songs and poems came thousands of years before the written word.
Poets used rhythm, rhyme and repetition to make their poems memorable and historically their
performance was incredibly important, this is still true today.
Before you start have a copy of the book Funky Chickens available ISBN – 978-0241354568
ACTIVITY
Ask whether anyone has read or heard any Benjamin Zephaniah poems before. Benjamin has performed in
front of audiences in Birmingham but often for an adult audience.
Watch Benjamin’s video: www.bournvillebookfest.com/schools (available from 1-5 March 2021).
ACTIVITY
After hearing Benjamin perform you can explore either the poems he shared or this short poem called
Clever Trevor (in the book on pages 78-79 called Football Mad).
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zcftsbk You may want to play it through a few times to give children
the chance to fully engage.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zcftsbk You may want to play it through a few times so that you and
your child can hear and understand it fully.
Depending on the ability of the children you may then want to explore the poem more deeply by using
open questions. The aim is not to elicit right or wrong answers but to get children to think about what they
have heard. The teacher should be an interested listener asking children what they thought and accepting
their responses. If you felt the response was incorrect, accept the response and ask others if that was
something they had also heard. The following questions are taken from the literary critic Aidan Chamber’s
approach to deeper understanding in story/poetry and text:
• Tell me…was there anything you liked about this poem?
• Was there anything that you particularly disliked…?
• Was there anything that puzzled you?
• Were there any patterns…any connections that you noticed… ?
You could use the Poetry Thought Shower on the next page to capture their thoughts about the use of
poetry devices such as the following.Poetry Device Definition Example
When lines end in
Rhyming "soul" rhymes with "goal"
the same sound.
When words start with
Cool, calm Kate; Peter Piper Picked
Alliteration the same sound
Peck of Pickled Pepper; I am da Rapping Rasta.
(not necessarily the same letter)
A word that imitates
Onomatopoeia The bee buzzed; Anisha gulped down her tea.
a sound.
When repeated words or Oh no bless my soul,
Word Repetition
sounds are used. Clever Trevor's scored a goal.
Whilst not a device, humour is a tool also used in poetry to engage listeners.
ACTIVITY
Materials required – paper, pencil and a poem to be read out loud
Illustrating a poem. Illustrator and author Chris Riddell illustrates poems whilst they are
being read.
Here is a YouTube video of him illustrating a poem by AF Harrold The Troll Song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixaHLT0bTcU
Chris Riddell has illustrated a series of poetry books where he has drawn straight onto the
poems as they have been laid out in the book. See video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXPUc-DZ9bA
Read a poem by Benjamin Zephaniah that may encourage children to have images to illustrate.
Why not try:
This Orange Tree - Page 47
Pencil Me In - Page 88 & 89
Funky Chicken - Page 90 & 91
What devices were used to get me
to enjoy the poem.What next?
BOOK TALK:
When everyone has read the first book why not run a book-club session on it. See the appendix for some
generic book club questions and add your own in.
DEVELOP:
Writing your own poetry
For more activities to develop skills in poetry writing see the following resource:
https://poetryclass.poetrysociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Poetry-Train-David-Harmer-and-
Roger-Stevens.pdf
Other useful resources:
The Children’s Poetry Archive has resources, information and live poetry readings to listen to.
https://childrens.poetryarchive.org/
A collection of resources from The Poetry Society
https://resources.poetrysociety.org.uk/?gclid=CjwKCAiA_9r_BRBZEiwAHZ_v15v9qrxTFlc4-
6T1PRlWwV6TdTr67cSKWjRUYhb3yq_vXbTMzIphIBoC6DMQAvD_BwE
Poetry written in book form by Benjamin:
Talking Turkeys
Wicked World
Also written by Benjamin Zephaniah (suitable for KS2)
Windrush Child
Benjamin Zephaniah shows us what it was like to be a child of the Windrush generation.
Leonard is shocked when he arrives with his mother in the port of Southampton. His father
is a stranger to him, it’s cold and even the Jamaican food doesn’t taste the same as it did
back home in Maroon Town. But his parents have brought him here to try to make a better
life, so Leonard does his best not to complain, to make new friends, to do well at school –
even when people hurt him with their words and with their fists.
Other books
Love that Dog – Sharon Creech
A great book for KS2 and KS3 students.
Slowly Jack learns the pleasures of writing poetry as Miss Stretchberry encourages him to
tell his own story through verse. What emerges is a moving and memorable story about a
boy and his dog and his growing passion for poetry.
The book is written in diary/poetry form and includes an appendix with some of the poems
introduced. Great for getting excitement about writing and reading a range of poetry
written in an accessible form.3. Cressida Cowell
About Cressida Cowell
Cressida is the author-illustrator of the How to Train Your Dragon and The Wizards of
Once book series, and the author of the Emily Brown picture books. Cressida was born on
15 April 1966. She grew up in London and spent a lot of time on a small uninhabited
island off the west coast of Scotland. Cressida is currently the Children’s Laureate. How to
Train your Dragon was published in 2003 and made into an animated film in 2010, with
How to Train your Dragon 2 released in 2014 and How to Train Your Dragon 3 released
in 2019.
About How to Train Your Dragon
How to Train Your Dragon is the first book in a 12 book series. Book 1 introduces Hiccup
Horrendous Haddock the 3rd who is a smallish Viking. Hiccup's father is chief of the tribe
which means Hiccup is the heir to the throne but most of the time Hiccup feels like a very
ordinary boy, finding it hard to be a hero. In this first book Hiccup must lead ten students
to train their dragons or be banished from the tribe for ever.
The book contains guidance on speaking Dragonese, information and statistics all
illustrated by Cressida herself.
ACTIVITY
Ask whether anyone has read any of the Cressida Cowell books How to Train Your Dragon?
Has anyone watched any of the films? Has anyone done both? and what did they think?
• You could turn this into a simple two circle Venn diagram on the whiteboard to highlight how many
children fell into each group.
From the children who saw the film and read the book/s ask which they preferred. Did this depend on
which they did first? Very often people who read the book before watching a film prefer the book.
If that is the case, ask why they think this might be true?
Why not read a passage from the book and/or watch a trailer of How to Train Your Dragon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKiYuIsPxYk
ACTIVITY
Reading aloud
The book will take around 3 ½ hours to read aloud to the class. Reading aloud regularly to your class, even
in Years 5 & 6 ensures exposure to high-quality model of language and immersion in the rhythms of text.
For children who are not yet reading at this level it provides access to language and understanding they
cannot yet access themselves, for those who are reading at this level but are not enthused to read
independently it can inspire them to want to find out what happens next – ideal particularly with a series
such as this. For those who can read independently and who may already have accessed the text it enables
a deeper understanding revisiting for a second or third time.
Reading aloud is a performance so think about how you can bring it alive and off the page. Have a look at a
sample of the audio book narrated by David Tennant https://adbl.co/3bhvCxq (Audible)ACTIVITY
Learning to speak Dragonese
Dragons are the only other creatures who speak a language as complicated and sophisticated as humans.
Hiccup is the only Viking who can speak Dragonese – but why not get your class to learn some too?! There
are great examples of this language in all the books, including several conversations with Toothless
occurring through the stories. In book 1 (page 84) there is an introduction to Dragonese and some phrases.
If you want to hear the pronounciation of Dragonese or explore more phrases see Cressida:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u96Kc_R8iKA
For more activities and a full Dragonese dictionary why not visit Scholastic’s website:
https://bit.ly/2XoRTkS
ACTIVITY
Create a Dragon scrap-book/information book
Researching the origins of where dragons were said to come from will help children find information.
Dragons feature in myths and legends in the UK as well as across Asia and the rest of the world. Dragons
take different forms, and are common in children’s books and stories including picture books.
Make available a range of books including picture books and chapter books where dragons have been
included. For example, written descriptions such as that from Harry Potter in the book The Philosophers
Stone could be made available – ‘Norbert is a Norwegian Ridgeback dragon that Hagrid had acquired as an
egg.’. Other dragon books include: Darwin’s Dragons by Lindsay Galvin (KS2), Dragon Mountain by Katie &
Kevin Tsang (KS2) and The Boy Who Grew Dragons – Ideal for Upper KS1 & Lower KS2. Picture books to
explore dragon illustrations include: Once Upon a Dragon’s Fire, Dragon Machine, Tell Me a Dragon,
Dragon Post, Snow Dragon, There’s a Dragon in Your Book, Billy’s Dragon and many more.
ACTIVITY
Work out your Viking Name
Find the initial of your first name and then the month you were born in.
Put them together with THE in between to find your full name.
A B C D E F G H
HAIRY GRUNT SMELLY ODIUS SNAKE-EYES QUIETLY SQUISHY PANTS
I J K L M N O P
GOBBER BURP FISHLEGS BUMBLE UNDERBELLY PURPLE FACE DRIBBLE DOGSBREATH
Q R S T U V W X
CLUELESS RANCID FISHFACE BIGNOSE PICKLE SNOT HICCUP DROOLER
Y Z
SPIT BELCH
JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST
UNWASHED DANGEROUS AXE-HEAD WARTHOG BALD-ONE FARTER UNREADY PARPER
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
TOELESS TOOTHLESS FIERY GIFTLESSWhat next? Other books in the series: 2: How To Be a Pirate Can Hiccup find Grimbeard the Ghastly's treasure before Alvin the Treacherous gets his sneaky hands on it? 3: How to Speak Dragonese Alvin the Treacherous steals Hiccup’s copy of How to Speak Dragonese. 4: How to Cheat a Dragon’s Curse Fishlegs has been struck with deadly Vorpentitis. The only cure is rare and almost impossible to find ... a potato. But where on Berk will Hiccup find such a thing? 5: How to Twist a Dragon’s Tail Someone has stolen the Fire Egg. Now the Volcano on Volcano Island is active and the tremors are hatching the eggs of the Exterminator dragons! 6: A Hero’s Guide to Deadly Dragons Hiccup is lost in the Library Labyrinth and the Driller-Dragons and Madguts and Murderous are on the prowl. Hiccup's birthday is not going to be the quiet affair he wanted. Book 6 also includes a comprehensive Dragonese Dictionary. 7: How to Ride a Dragon’s Storm Hiccup has three months, five days and six hours to discover America, get back to Berk, save his father, battle Polarserpents, AND win the annual Inter-Tribal Friendly Swimming Race. 8: How to Break a Dragon’s Heart Hiccup must battle Berserks, dodge Scarers, complete the Impossible Task and save Fishlegs from being ed to the Beast! All while being hunted down by an old enemy. Will he do it? 9: How to Steal a Dragon’s Sword Dragons are starting to revolt against their Masters. The waters have risen, flooding fields and washing whole villages away. But worse still, the wicked witch Excellinor has returned. 10: How to Seize a Dragon’s Jewel The Dragon Rebellion has begun. But what can Hiccup do, he is all alone and in exile, hunted by both humans and dragons? Can he find the Dragon Jewel, mankind's last and only hope? 11: How to Betray a Dragon’s Hero High up in the treacherous mists of the Murderous Mountains, Hiccup and the Company of the Dragonmark are in hiding. The witch's Spydragons are guarding the shores of Tomorrow - but Hiccup is determined to become King of the Wilderwest. 12: How to Fight a Dragon’s Fury The very last in the series. It is the Doomsday of Yule. At the end of this day, either the humans or the dragons will face extinction. As Doomsday draws to an end can Hiccup be the Hero of the hour? Will the dragons survive?
The Wizards of Once series – By Cressida Cowell
About the book series
The Wizards of Once is an exciting high-adventure series set in an ancient, magical time, full of Wizards,
Warriors, Giants and Sprites.
Book 1 – The Wizards of Once
Once there was Magic, and the Magic lived in the dark forests. Until the Warriors came ...
Xar is a Wizard boy who has no Magic and will do anything to get it. Wish is a Warrior girl,
but she owns a banned Magical Object, and she will do anything to conceal it. In this
whirlwind adventure, Xar and Wish must forget their differences if they’re going to make it
to the dungeons at Warrior Fort. Where something that has been sleeping for hundreds of
years is stirring ...
Book 2 - The Wizards of Once: Twice Magic
Witches are creating havoc in the Wildwoods and danger lurks behind every tree trunk.
Wish is in possession of a powerful, Magic Spelling Book; Xar has a dangerous Witchstain
on his hand. Together they can save the Wildwoods from the curse of the Witches but
they are separated by the highest wall imaginable, and time is running out ... It was
unlikely that these heroes should meet in the first place. Is it possible they are destined to
meet TWICE?
Book 3 - The Wizards of Once: Knock Three Times
Wish and Xar are now outlaws on the run, hunted by Warriors, Wizards and worst of all, by
WITCHES ... Can they find the ingredients for the Spell to Get Rid of Witches before the
Kingwitch gets his talons on Magic-that-Works-on-Iron? Their next Quest is the most
terrifying and treacherous of all ... And someone is going to betray them ...
Book 4 - The Wizards of Once: Never and Forever
Xar and Wish have found the ingredients for the Spell-to-get-rid-of-Witches. Now the
Kingwitch is calling them to the lake of the lost. But first they must mix the potion in the
Cup of Second Chances ...Can they defeat the hungry Tatzelwerm monster and escape
with the cup? And will the spell be strong enough to lift the CURSE OF THE
WILDWOODS... or will Witches reign FOREVER?ACTIVITY
Reading aloud
The first book will take around 6 hours to read aloud to the class. Reading aloud regularly to your class,
even in Years 5 & 6 ensures exposure to high-quality model of language and immersion in the rhythms of
text. For children who are not yet reading at this level it provides access to language and understanding
they cannot yet access themselves. For those who are reading at this level but are not enthused to read
independently it can inspire them to want to find out what happens next. This is ideal with a series such as
this. For those who can read independently and who may already have accessed the text it enables a
deeper understanding revisiting for a second or third time.
Reading aloud is a performance so think about how you can bring it alive and off the page. Have a look at
a sample of the audio book narrated by David Tenant https://adbl.co/35oJ9PX
Book Approx. time needed to read aloud
Book 1 - The Wizards of Once 6 hrs
Book 2 - The Wizards of Once: Twice Magic 5 ½ hrs
Book 3 - The Wizards of Once: Knock Three Times 6 hrs
Book 4 - The Wizards of Once: Never and Forever 6 hrs
ACTIVITY
Run a book-club session around the book/s
See the appendix for information on how to run a book club and some generic questions that could
be used.
ACTIVITY
Drawing
The Wizards of Once has a Magic Spoon and Key in the books. Ask children – what do you think they
might look like if they were magic? Encourage them to draw what they might look like. Have examples of
keys and spoons so that they can examine them and use them for ideas for their drawings. Then once
complete, have a look at how Cressida draws her illustrations of the spoon and key. The video is just over
one minute long so you may need to play it through a few times:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3gXDqtsLPg
ACTIVITY
The Reading Agency, working with Cressida Cowell has produced a comprehensive resource pack for the
Wizards of Once book series. There are activities and lots of information.
To download: https://bit.ly/2XkT9VR
Other books about Magic and Wizardry:
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone - JK Rowling
Nevermoor - Jessica Townsend
The Land of Roar – Jenny Mclachlan
The Nowhere Emporium – Ross Mackenzie
The Strangeworlds Travel Agency – LD Lapinski
The Great Brain Robbery – PG Bell4. Steven Butler & Steven Lenton
About Steven Butler
Steven Butler grew up in Kent, but now lives in London. He is an author as well as an
actor, dancer and trained circus. Steven trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
and The Toronto Circus School and he has starred in Peter Pan, Joseph and the Amazing
Technicolor Dreamcoat, and as Henry in Horrid Henry Live and Horrid! His primary school
headteacher was the author Jeremy Strong!
About Steven Lenton
Steven Lenton is originally from Congleton in Cheshire, where his family run a pom-pom
factory, but he now splits his time between Brighton and London, where he works from
his shared studio. Steven has two degrees (a BA & an MA) in animation and has worked as
a successful animator and art director for children's television.
Book 1 Book 2
Nothing to See Here Hotel You Aint Seen Nothing Yeti
A hotel for magical creatures, Frankie Banister and his guests are
where Frankie Banister lives with looking forward to celebrating the
his parents who run the hotel. summer holiday of Trogmanay. But
When a goblin messenger arrives when a snow-storm blows in with
at The Nothing to See Here Hotel, the Yeti family a number of
announcing the imminent arrival mysterious guests arrive &
of the goblin prince Grogbah, something sinister seems to be
Frankie and his family rush into taking over the hotel.
action to get ready for their important guest. But it
soon becomes obvious that the Banister family are
going to have their work cut out with the
demanding prince and his never-ending entourage,
especially when it turns out the rude little prince is
hiding a secret...
Book 3 Book 4
Sea-ing is Believing Fiend of the Seven Sewers
Frankie Banister and his family are Frankie is kidnapped and dragged
preparing to celebrate Grandad off to a secret cistern-city in the
Abraham's 175th birthday by depths of the sewers. Frankie is
bringing back his ghost. The going to have to outwit old
visiting spook reveals a secret enemies and rely on new friends if
underwater wing of the hotel he ever wants to see his hotel
that's been hidden for years but home again.
are there other secrets in the briny
ballroom?ACTIVITY
Reading aloud
The first book will take around 2 hrs 20 mins to read aloud to the class. The text is ideally suited to children
in Years 2-4. Reading aloud regularly to your class, even in Years 5 & 6 ensures exposure to high-quality
model of language and immersion in the rhythms of text. For children who are not yet reading at this level
it provides access to language and understanding they cannot yet access themselves. For those who are
reading at this level but are not enthused to read independently it can inspire them to want to find out what
happens next. This is ideal with a series such as this. For those who can read independently and who may
already have accessed the text it enables a deeper understanding revisiting for a second or third time.
Reading aloud is a performance so think about how you can bring it alive and off the page. Have a look at a
sample of the audio book narrated by David Tennant https://adbl.co/35oJ9PX
Book Approx. time needed to read aloud
Book 1 - The Nothing to See Here Hotel 2 hrs 20 mins
Book 2 - You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yeti 3 hrs 20 mins
Book 3 - Sea-ing is Believing 4 hrs 45 mins
Book 4 - Fiend of the Seven Sewers 3 hrs
ACTIVITY
Story-mapping
When you have read Book 1 use the story-mapping template in the appendix to explore the story. Story
maps are useful to improve comprehension, provide a framework to help identify the different elements of
the book or story and help students of all abilities organise information and ideas effectively. When they
come to their own writing a story map can help form the basis of their thinking.
ACTIVITY
Illustration
In book 1 we are introduced to Prince Grogbah. Illustrator Steve Lenton has a video explaining step by step
how to draw your very own illustration. It is around 13 minutes long. Why not watch and draw first and
show your illustration to the class before they watch and have a go?
See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ou4M9EY5YqUACTIVITY Illustration On pages 14 and 15 of Book One there is an illustration of the inside of the hotel. Ask the group to plan and draw a room that they would love to see in their hotel. Have a look at Frankie’s room which is in the middle - he has a globe, pictures, a fireplace, noticeboard. What would they like to have in their room if they could have ANYTHING? Once the group has finished their pictures, get them to share them with the class or their group. Then as a full class activity they could discuss any other rooms they would like in their own hotel. Perhaps a bathroom with taps that run chocolate? What about a waterslide?
ACTIVITY
Run a book-club session around the book(s)
This book is suitable for children to read independently from around Year 3 and is a great choice for more
reluctant older readers.
See the appendix for information on how to run a book club and some generic questions that could be
used to get things started.
What next?
Other books by Steven Butler
The Wrong Pong – Award winning funny books for 5-7 year olds
Dog Diaries – A book series ideal for younger readers.
Awesomely Austen: Northanger Abbey – A funny, accessible retelling of Jane Austen’s classic.
Other books by Steven Butler
Shifty McGifty & Slippery Sam books – in picture book and first chapter book format
The Hundred and One Dalmations – picture book format.
Also Steven has an illustration in The Book of Hopes on page 145. Collated By Katherine
Rundell The Book of Hopes is a collection of inspiring and hopeful stories for children –
Read for free https://literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone/9-12/book-hopes/5. Katherine Rundell
About Katherine
Katherine is an award winning children’s writer and academic in English Literature. She
was born in Kent and grew up in Zimbabwe before moving to Belgium when she was 14
years old. She studied at Oxford University and now lives in London and sometimes
Oxford.
World Book Day 2021 Title – Sky Steppers
This World Book Day book takes place a few years before the adventures in Rooftoppers and you can read
them in any order.
High above the streets of Paris live the “rooftoppers”, a secret gang of children who eat,
sleep and tumble amongst the chimney pots. It’s a perilous life, but for Matteo and
Mercedes the adventure is only just beginning. Caught up in a long-standing feud that
threatens their existence amongst the stars, they find themselves on a hunt across Paris,
tearing across the roofs of Versailles and the Louvre, searching for hidden treasure in a
race against Henri Danglars – the enemy who would seek to destroy that which they
love best.
Rooftoppers - Illustrated by Marie-Alice Harel
Everyone tells Sophie that she was orphaned in a shipwreck. But Sophie is convinced her
mother is alive and she’s determined to find her. High up above the city of Paris, a group
of children live secret lives on the rooftops. And a boy leans against a chimney pot,
watching Sophie arrive… The book is a thrilling adventure about following your dreams,
believing in yourself and never ignoring a possible.
The book won The Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and also The Blue Peter Book
Award when it was first published.
ACTIVITY
Reading aloud
Skysteppers will take around two hours to read aloud to the class and Rooftoppers approximately 6 hours.
The text is ideally suited to children in Years 4, 5 & 6. Reading aloud regularly to your class, even in Years 5
& 6 ensures exposure to high-quality model of language and immersion in the rhythms of text. For children
who are not yet reading at this level it provides access to language and understanding they cannot yet
access themselves. For those who are reading at this level but are not enthused to read independently it
can inspire them to want to find out what happens next. This is ideal with a series such as this. For those
who can read independently and who may already have accessed the text it enables a deeper
understanding revisiting for a second or third time.
Reading aloud is a performance so think about how you can bring it alive and off the page.ACTIVITY Read through Chapter 1 of Skysteppers which focuses on Matteo and use the Story Mapping (2) to explore the Chapter. We are introduced to Matteo at the start of Chapter 1. For those who have read Rooftoppers they will know he is the boy Sophie meets when she arrives in Paris. Using the template as a guide, get the group to think about the chapter you have read and work out the: Setting – Paris, in a crowd as the Paris Opera was nearby Characters – Matteo, policemen Conflict – being spotted stealing the cucumber by 2 policemen Important Events – it was the evening of Matteo’s 11th Birthday, the theft of a cucumber as he was hungry. Resolution – to escape the policemen Matteo climbed the Opera House up the pillars Themes – survival, loneliness, luck, fear To extend the activity, make available the first chapter and ask that the group choose one of the themes they have come up with and find evidence to support this. ACTIVITY Resources required: Paper or exercise book, pencils, pens, colours. Create a Book Scrapbook Instead of writing just a book review, why not make your own scrapbook with individual pages based on the book? This type of book-journaling to increases creativity and is a great way to keep track of the books read. An example of The Explorer – one of Katherine Rundell’s titles below:
ACTIVITY
Run a book-club session around the book/s. See the appendix for information on how to run a book club
and some generic questions that could be used to get things started.
Have a debate and then vote about which of Katherine’s titles is their favourite.
What next
Some of Katherine’s other books
The Book of Hopes The Explorer
This is a collection of short stories, - Multi award winning book
poems, essays and pictures with Fred watches as the mysteries of
contributions from more than 110 the Amazon jungle pass by below
children’s writers and illustrators. him. He has always dreamed of
The collection is dedicated to the becoming an explorer and making
doctors, nurses, carers, porters, history. If only he could land and
cleaners and everyone working in look about him. As the plane
hospitals. Katherine edited the crashes into the canopy, Fred is
stories and wrote The Young Bird suddenly left without a choice. He
Catcher on Page 366. and the three other children may be alive, but the
The book (and story) can be read jungle is a vast, untamed place. With no hope of
online free of charge: rescue, the chance of getting home feels impossibly
https://literacytrust.org.uk/family-zone/9-12/book- small. Except, it seems, someone has been there
hopes/ before them ...
Bloomsbury Publishing have produced
a resource pack with more activities:
https://media.bloomsbury.com/rep/files/ExplorerTe
acherpack.pdf
The Wolf Wilder The Good Thieves
Feodora and her mother live in the – Foyles book of the year
snowbound woods of Russia. Ten Vita Marlowe arrives in New York
minutes away, in a ruined chapel, by boat from England. Her
lives a pack of wolves. Feodora's grandfather Jack has been
mother is a wolf wilder, who cheated out of his home and
teaches tamed animals to fend for possessions by a notorious
themselves, and to fight and to conman with Mafia connections.
run, and to be wary of humans. Vita is desperate to make him
Feo is a wolf wilder in training and happy again and finds a
when the Russian Army threaten her very existence, pickpocket along with two boys with unusual skills
she is left with no option but to run away. to help with her plan to outwit his enemies and
An adventure story about standing up for the recover his home.
things you love.
Bloomsbury Publishing have produced
Bloomsbury Publishing have produced a resource pack with more activities:
a resource pack with more activities: https://media.bloomsbury.com/rep/files/The%20Go
https://media.bloomsbury.com/rep/files/the-wolf- od%20Thieves%20Teaching%20Notes.pdf
wilder-teachers-notes-pb_web.pdf6. Tom Palmer
About Tom
As a child Tom didn’t enjoy reading and his mum encouraged him with newspapers and
magazines about football. There were no books about football for children. Gradually he
came to love books and studied for A levels when he was 21. Tom has worked in a
bookshop and a library while he wrote his books. Tom has written around 40 books and
won lots of awards.
Roy of the Rovers Series
Roy of the Rovers is a British comic strip about the life of a fictional footballer named Roy Race who played
for Melchester Rovers. It continued with his son Rocky who also played for Melchester. The comic strips
first started in 1954 and ran until May 2001. The publisher Rebellion have updated the legendary Roy of the
Rovers comic for a new audience. Alongside Tom’s 6 chapter books, are a series of graphic novel comic
books written by Rob Williams.
Book 1 – Scouted
Roy Race is a totally normal 16 year old. He just happens to be the best striker in
Melchester, too... Roy always dreamed of becoming a professional footballer and playing
for Melchester Rovers, the team he's supported his entire life, but he never thought he
had a chance - until now.
Book 2 – Teamwork
Roy Race is living the dream. After all, how many 16-year-olds get to play up front for
their favourite football team? Except life as Melchester Rovers' new star striker isn't easy.
Everyone's looking at him differently, social media is a nightmare, and Rovers are still
stuck at the bottom of the league.
Book 3 – Play-Offs
The end of the season is here, and it's make or break for Roy Race and Melchester Rovers.
Against all odds, Roy and his teammates are closer to getting Rovers promoted. However,
if they fail to reach League One, then Rovers' owner Barry Cleaver plans to sell up,
destroying Melchester Rovers for good.Book 4 – On Tour
After a whirlwind season that saw him become centre forward for his beloved Melchester
Rovers and score a bagful of goals, helping them secure promotion into League One, he's
now recognised as one of the best young footballers in the country. But something
strange is afoot as he is kept apart from his team.
Book 5 – From the Ashes
Roy Race watched the home ground of his beloved Melchester Rovers, burn to the
ground. The club is in serious trouble and Roy was sold by cash-strapped Melchester to
their greatest rivals, Tynecaster. But now Roy needs to find a way back to Rovers, and fast
- or there won't be a club left to return to...
Book 6 – Rocky
The final story told from the perspective of a female footballer - Rocky Race, Roy's
younger sister. A struggling student and brilliant footballer, Rocky is struggling to find her
own way - as a person and a player - and she's going to need all her grit and
determination to do it.
ACTIVITY
Read aloud
Scouted will take around 21/2 to 3 hrs to read aloud to the class. The text is very accessible and suited to
children in Years 3-6. Reading aloud regularly to your class, even in Years 5 & 6 ensures exposure to high-
quality model of language and immersion in the rhythms of text. For children who are not yet reading at
this level it provides access to language and understanding they cannot yet access themselves. For those
who are reading at this level but are not enthused to read independently it can inspire them to want to find
out what happens next. This is ideal with a series such as this. For those who can read independently and
who may already have accessed the text it enables a deeper understanding revisiting for a second or third
time.
Reading aloud is a performance so think about how you can bring it alive and off the page.ACTIVITY
Growth Mindset - Discussion
Read Chapter 1 – either from the book or from Tom’s sample on his website:
https://www.tompalmer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Scouted-chapter-1-and-2.pdf
Children (and adults) with a fixed mindset believe that you are born good (or not so good) at something
and that practice won’t really make a difference.
Points to discuss:
The chapter starts with Roy practicing his football all through his summer holidays. He had read that to be
really good at something you have to practice doing it 10,000 times.
1. What do you think about that?
Do you think practicing will make any difference? If so, what difference would it make if he
practiced every day of the summer holidays, or three times a week, or just once a week?
2. Sometimes, when something doesn’t go right it is easy to give up.
In the Chapter we just read can you think of anything that happened that may have made
Roy want to give up? What would you do? What did he do?
3. At the end of the Chapter Roy didn’t feel like he had done enough to keep his place in the team,
although the manager Yunis seemed to be happy. What do you think matters most – that you
come out on top or win something, even if you don’t try your best or that you don’t win but have
tried your hardest? Can you think of any examples when you have done your very best but it still
wasn’t good enough to win? What was positive about that?
4. Can you think of anything that you would like to get better at? It could be a sport, or learning a new
skill such as the volley that Roy had been practising, improving your spelling, learning some maths
that you have struggled with or learning a new hobby. Can you think of ways, strategies, to get
better at something? What would you need to improve? Do you need to ask someone for help?
Read about how to improve or watch a video? Who can support you as you learn your skills?
ACTIVITY
Writing
Roy and Rocky of the Rovers Writing Kit. Tom has created a set of eight writing activities inspired by this
book series and you can download them free of charge here: https://royoftherovers.com/shop/free
ACTIVITY
Writing – using comics to develop writing skills
The books by Tom were created from graphic novel comic books written by Rob Williams and illustrated by
Lisa Henke. Tom used the comic strip to think about what he needed to include in his stories.
Tom has developed an activity around Book 5 From the Ashes which can be used as a stand-alone activity.
In this student pack all the resources are included for children to look at the comic strip, answer some
questions then develop their own piece of prose. Tom has then included his own prose which you can
read out to the group once they have all finished their own writing. The pack can be downloaded free of
charge from here: https://www.tompalmer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Roy-worksheet-2020.pdf
ACTIVITY
Book club
Roy of the Rovers books are ideal for encouraging those interested in football but less interested in reading.
Buy a set (or more) of the books and encourage children to read them all. They are written to be read in
order, but each tells stand-alone stories so not a huge problem to read out of order. Alternatively, you
could use the books as an extra-curricular book club with the book club leader reading the books aloud
over a term. Once you have read them all, either as a group or individually you can send off your
information to Tom to receive a signed poster certificate:
Email: admin@tompalmer.co.uk with the Subject: Roy of the Rovers poster certificateACTIVITY
Colouring and Illustration activities
Sharp-shooter Rocky is testing her brother Roy’s goal-keeping skills. Can you add a crowd or maybe some
more players and colour them all in?
https://www.tompalmer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Rocky-Roy-colouring.pdf
A picture of Roy to colour in and design a new football kit for Melchester Rovers
https://www.tompalmer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Roy-of-the-the-Rovers-colouring.pdf
Learn to draw Rocky with illustrator Lisa Henke
https://www.tompalmer.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Rocky-drawing-2.pdf
What next?
Other football books by Tom Palmer
Foul Play (book 1 of a crime and football series) Danny is obsessed with two things: football - and
investigating crimes. So when England and City footballing hero Sam Roberts is reported missing the day
after Danny saw him being taken, blindfolded, into the bowels of the City FC stadium late at night, he's
determined to get to the bottom of it.
Football Academy (Football books for age 6-9 year olds) Jake loves football and dreams of becoming a
professional footballer. He's worried about his height though - what if he's too small for football? But on
the day of his trial Jake is quick on the ball and scores - he's made it! But someone at the club wants to
make his life difficult.
Secret FC - Published by Barrington Stoke as a more accessible read. Aimed at 6-10 year olds.
Lily, Zack and Khal can't believe it when the new headteacher at their school bans football in the
playground. What will they do at break-time now? Then Zack has a brilliant plan and a very secret football
club is formed.
Other books written by Tom Palmer
After the War - The Second World War is finally over and Yossi, Leo and Mordecai are among three hundred
children who arrive in the English Lake District. Having survived the horrors of the Nazi concentration
camps, they've finally reached a place of safety and peace, where they can hopefully begin to recover.
Inspired by the true story of the Windermere Boys
Armistice Runner Lily has lots of worries. She's struggling to compete in her fell-running races and, worse,
she's losing her gran to Alzheimer's. But then she discovers her great-great-grandfather's diaries from the
First World War. Could his incredible story of bravery help her reconnect with her gran and even give her
the inspiration she needs to push through and win?
D-Day Dog Jack can't wait for the school trip to the D-Day landing beaches. It's his chance to learn more
about the war heroes he has always admired - brave men like his dad, who is a reserve soldier. But when his
dad is called up to action things at home spiral out of control. Jack is drawn to a true story of, Emile Corteil
who in June 1944 parachuted into France with his dog, Glen. Jack is determined to find out what
happened to them.
Graphic Novel Comic Books by Rob Williams and Lisa Henke
Book 1 - Roy of the Rovers: Kick Off
Book 2 - Roy of the Rovers: Foul Play
Book 3 - Roy of the Rovers: Going Up
Book 4 – Roy of the Rovers: Transferred
Book 5 – Roy of the Rovers: All To Play For
Book 6 - Roy of the Rovers: PressureAppendix
• Running a book club
• Story Mapping Template (1)
• Story Mapping Template (2)
Running a Book Club
To increase the success of a book club CLPE have found that it works if you:
• Allow children to choose from a selection of carefully chosen texts – perhaps through secret voting,
which gives a sense of autonomy
• Explore follow-up activities such as some of those within this resource guide to hook and keep the
children interested as well as increasing understanding of the books.
• Choose books in a series as this was found to be really effective in encouraging children to carry on
and read the rest of the books in the series independently. Ideally the Teacher in charge of the book
club should read the books ahead of the vote so you can outline what each title is about and be
aware of any issues.
• Give recognition of the book-club and it’s achievements through special assemblies, displays or
rewarding with attendance certificates.
• Give the club a special identity through a chosen name, agreement amongst all of rules and perhaps
some button badges designed by members.
Format of the club (approx. 50 mins but vary to suit your timings)
• Children arrive & welcome – a sticky note activity where they can write themes from the book, a
score out of 10 or other ice-break activity as others arrive. (5 mins)
• Review of the book they have read (see book talk) (15 -20 mins)
• Activity – art, creative writing, book-scrap book etc. (15 mins)
• Vote on next book – leader outlines each of 4 titles for voting (5 mins)
• Book Club Leader reads aloud the start of the next book to inspire them to read more (10 mins)
Book talk - Generic questions
• Did the cover make you want to read it?
• Which parts of the book have stayed most in your mind?
• What are your favourite parts of the story?
• Which parts didn’t you like so much?
• Were there any bits you didn’t understand?
• Did you skip parts?
• Which ones?
• Was there anything that took you completely by surprise?
• How did you feel about the book when you’d finished it?
• Where were you when you read it?
• Did it grip you right from the start?
• What were the themes in the book?
• Did you want to read it right to the end?
• What do you remember most about it?
• What was the thing you most liked finding out from this book?
• Do you want to read more books in the series?Story Mapping Template (1)
Title: Author:
Illustrator:
Setting: Characters:
Beginning:
Middle:
End:Story Mapping Template (2)
Title: Author:
Illustrator:
Setting: Characters:
Conflict: Important Events:
Resolution: Themes:
© Copyright Everybody Reads CIC
Resource pack designed by Pete Brown.
Permission is given for individuals to photocopy, print and share these resources, but they mustn’t be sold for commercial gain.You can also read
